Why do some children develop more slowly or faster than others during puberty?
Quick Answer
Puberty timing depends on hormones, body fat, genetics, health, and environment. The brain’s hypothalamus and pituitary glands start the hormonal cascade that drives sexual development.
The Full Story
Puberty begins when the brain activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, a hormone system that triggers sexual maturation. The timing varies naturally, and genetics plays a major role in when this process starts. Nutrition, body weight, chronic illness, stress, and environmental factors can also shift the timing earlier or later. Normal puberty commonly starts between ages 8 and 13 in girls and 9 and 14 in boys, though there is broad variation.
Key Facts
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